In the summer of 1776, 13 disenfranchised colonies spoke. It took days for their declaration to be printed and distributed throughout the colonies, and it took weeks for it to be seen across the Atlantic.Today, such a document could be published and shared with the world in seconds. More than any time in history, more people in more places have the ability to have their voices heard.Powering these voices are billions of Internet connections around the world—people on their mobile phones, tablets, laptops and desktops. The Internet is a powerful platform that makes it easier for people to speak, to assemble, and to be heard. This is true no matter where freedom is taking root.Yet we’ve only just begun to see what a free and open Internet can do for people and for the freedom we cherish.

Today we’re sharing a video we made to celebrate our freedom and the tools that support it. Please take a moment to watch it, share it with your friends, and add your voice.

Can't believe Google hired Susan Molinari to head their Washington office. She's an ousted republican hack whose party doesn't side with internet freedom, ever. I wouldn't hire her to wipe the dog's backside. Obama's been no friend of the internet either -- remember he campaigned on net neutrality only to abandon it two years later when Time Warner and AT&T flooded him with cash.

Yea, she was a typical politician -- say anything to get-then-stay in office back then. Her downfall was criticizing Newt Gingrich. If a person built a career on lies, how can I ever trust them? And why would anyone give these losers a job!

Google UK's privacy policy manager held a senior role at the UK's data privacy watchdog during the time of its original probe into Street View.

A freedom of information request revealed that Steven McCartney left the Information Commissioner's Office to join Google in November 2011.

The ICO had been criticised for its initial investigation - which has since reopened - into data privacy breaches.

The ICO said Mr McCartney "played no part" in the investigations.

In its own statement, Google said: "We don't comment on individual employees."

Rob Halfon, Tory MP for Harlow, told the Guardian that the news was a "shocking revelation".

"Now it seems they [the ICO] have had a cosy relationship with the company they have been investigating," he told the newspaper.

Mr McCartney was head of data protection promotion at the ICO where he had worked, according to his LinkedIn profile, since 2004.

During this time, the ICO conducted an investigation into allegations that Google had knowingly gathered personal data while collecting photographs as part of its Street View mapping project.

The ICO ruled that there had been a "significant breach" of the Data Protection Act, but opted not to fine the company, a decision heavily criticised by campaign group Privacy International and others.

Of the 2010 investigation, deputy information commissioner David Smith told the BBC: "We spent less time searching than others did. If we had searched for days and days we would have found more."

It later emerged that several Google staff had been told that data was being collected, prompting the ICO to reopen its inquiries.Email correspondence

The documents, obtained by campaigner Peter John, showed Mr McCartney had outlined what he had said were "significant errors" in the media's reporting of the issue in an email dated 4 May 2012.

Christopher Graham, the information commissioner, responded to the email with "thanks for this, Stephen".

In a statement released today, the ICO said: "The published correspondence between Google and the ICO clearly shows that Stephen McCartney was treated like any other organisation's representative, with his emails receiving nothing more than a polite acknowledgement.

The spokesman added: "ICO employees continue to be legally bound by a confidentiality agreement after they leave the organisation, as part of the Data Protection Act.

"Stephen Eckersley, the ICO's Head of Enforcement, continues to investigate Google's actions with regard to the Street View project."

Mr Eckersley is currently considering a response to Google's most recent letter on the matter which was received by the ICO last month.